The Sacramento City Council has approved a police department request to install license plate readers at 18 more intersections in the city this year.

The Sacramento Police Department would like to increase the number of intersections with cameras and license plate readers from two to twenty this year.

The readers were first installed in intersections and patrol vehicles in 2013. Captain Neil Schneider says he's seen the difference between a camera with a reader and one without.

"We had a camera up without the license plate reader. The camera actually saw a shooting take place and saw the vehicle that did the shooting. But because we didn't have the license plate reader, we did not have the license plate of the vehicle . We ultimately were able to solve that crime, but it was through a whole lot of extra work."

Schneider says the department would like to install the systems in three more vehicles and two mobile camera trailers this year and next.

With council approval, $553,000 worth of cameras and readers will be purchased using state and local grants.

Bob reports on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards. Read Full Bio